German sentence structure
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HideSentence structure of main clauses in German
In this lesson you are going to learn about the different possibilities of forming a German sentence.
For example:
Der Lehrer fragt den Schüler. - The teacher asks the student
Den Schüler fragt der Lehrer. - The student asks the teacher
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Nadezhda M. 
Anna F. 
Eleonora S.
Joachim G. 
Giulia M.
Jens-Gerrit E.
Valeria B.
Robert F. 
Stefania R.
Diletta M.
Nadezhda M.
Anna F.
Eleonora S.
Joachim G.
Giulia M.
Jens-Gerrit E.
Valeria B.
Robert F.
How to form negative sentence in German (negation)
You use negation to form negative sentences in the German language. There are two different ways of forming these sentences by using "nicht" or "kein".
For example:
Sie geht nicht ins Kino - She does not go to the cinema
Du hast keinen Hunger. - You are not hungry
How to form questions in German
This lessons explain the usage of question-words in general and when to use and not to use them.
For example:
Woher hast du deine Brille? - From where do you have your glasses?
Hast du meine Brille gesehen? - Have you seen my glasses?
Learn about German dependent clauses
A dependent clause always depends on a main clause. Therefore, a dependent clause never occurs alone. Comparing a main clause to a dependent clause, the verb in a dependent clause is always placed at the end of a sentence.
For example:
Die Pizza, die auf dem Teller liegt, ist verbrannt. - The pizza, that is on the plate, is burnt
Der Kuchen, der ausgestellt ist, sieht schön aus. - The cake, that is displayed, looks good
Usage of German conjunctions
A conjunction is connecting words, phrases or clauses.
For example:
Wir nehmen es mit, denn wir finden es schön. - We're taking it with us, because we think it's pretty
Wir nehmen ein Taxi oder den Bus. - We're taking a cab or the bus
Wir brauchen kein Tee, sondern wir wollen Kaffee. - We don't need tea, we wont coffee
Start with the first topic! Let's go!
Exercises
Construct a German sentence!
Make a German indirect speech!
Example: "Ich kann das nicht", sagte sie → Sie sagte, sie könne das nicht. ("I cannot do it", said the woman → She said, she could not do it)
1.) "Das Auto ist viel zu schnell gefahren", erklärte der Mann → Der Mann erklärte, .
("The car drove way too fast", explained the man → The man explained, the car drove way too fast)
2.) "Hast du deine Hausaufgaben gemacht?", fragte die Lehrerin → Die Lehrerin fragte, ob er .
("Did you do your homework?, asked the teacher → The teacher asked, if he did his homework)
3.) "Ich bin spazieren gegangen", sagt die Frau → Die Frau sagt, .
("I went for a walk", said the woman → The woman said, she went for a walk)
4.) "Ich konnte dich nicht sehen", sagte der Mann → Der Mann sagte, er sie .
("I couldn't see you", said the man → The man said, he couldn't see her)
5.) "Ihre Aussage hilft mir nicht weiter", meinte der Polizist → Der Polizist meinte, ihre Aussage .
("Your statemant doesn't help me further", said the policeman → The policeman said, her statement didn't help him further)
6.) "Ich kann das reparieren", rief der Mann → Der Mann rief, er .
("I can fix that", called the man → The man called, he could fix that)
7.) "Ich gehe jetzt heim", sagte sie → Sie sagte, .
("I'm going home now", she said → She said, she would go home now
Exercises
Construct a German sentence!
Make a German indirect speech!
Example: "Ich kann das nicht", sagte sie → Sie sagte, sie könne das nicht. ("I cannot do it", said the woman → She said, she could not do it)
1.) "Das Auto ist viel zu schnell gefahren", erklärte der Mann → Der Mann erklärte, .
("The car drove way too fast", explained the man → The man explained, the car drove way too fast)
2.) "Hast du deine Hausaufgaben gemacht?", fragte die Lehrerin → Die Lehrerin fragte, ob er .
("Did you do your homework?, asked the teacher → The teacher asked, if he did his homework)
3.) "Ich bin spazieren gegangen", sagt die Frau → Die Frau sagt, .
("I went for a walk", said the woman → The woman said, she went for a walk)
4.) "Ich konnte dich nicht sehen", sagte der Mann → Der Mann sagte, er sie .
("I couldn't see you", said the man → The man said, he couldn't see her)
5.) "Ihre Aussage hilft mir nicht weiter", meinte der Polizist → Der Polizist meinte, ihre Aussage .
("Your statemant doesn't help me further", said the policeman → The policeman said, her statement didn't help him further)
6.) "Ich kann das reparieren", rief der Mann → Der Mann rief, er .
("I can fix that", called the man → The man called, he could fix that)
7.) "Ich gehe jetzt heim", sagte sie → Sie sagte, .
("I'm going home now", she said → She said, she would go home now